A first responder had reached their house 10 minutes after the 999 call, and soon after paramedics arrived. They were able to stabilise Emma, but were forced to call the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) to also attend, and it was decided to rush Emma to Addenbrooke's as soon as possible in hopes to save Emma and the baby.

"There was a full surgical team waiting there to try and save Emma and another just for the baby," Phil said.

"One of the doctors told me she had already lost about half of her blood, they had to give her a blood transfusion."

It was explained that Emma had suffered a rare placental abruption, a complication in which the placenta separates before childbirth.

Emma was immediately rushed to the delivery ward and into surgery for an emergency caesarean section, where surgeons were waiting to firstly perform the caesarean section under general anesthesia, and the second team to attend to the baby.

Phil was ushered outside the operating theatre where the HEMS doctor kindly waited with him, giving him support while they waited for the news.

Emma and baby Jessie (Image: David Johnson Photographic)

Emma had suffered severe blood loss of around 3 litres in total, hemorrhaging before and after the operation, and a blood clot had formed which was the same size as the placenta.

At around midday their baby girl was delivered, but she was born "pale, floppy and not breathing."

Resuscitation attempts then began for baby Jessie and after a very long 10 minutes she began breathing. When stable, she was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Both Emma and Jessie both survived due to the amazingly quick thinking of all medical staff that were involved.

In the weeks to come Emma had to have blood transfusions and ongoing medical care due to the severity and nature of the delivery. Jessie has also been under close observation with various health professionals.

Jessie Cavanagh, 7 months (Image: David Johnson Photographic)

Both Emma and her fiancé Phil also received counseling from Petals based at the Rosie Maternity Hospital, and were able to meet the doctors from the HEMS air ambulance unit who stabilised Emma and rushed Emma to hospital.

Emma said: "We are both extremely grateful for the amazing service Petals provide which has helped us to come to terms with our horrendous ordeal.

"We are eternally grateful to the air ambulance team and everyone involved in saving our lives.

"Meeting the doctor involved will always remain one of the best days of our lives and was truly an honour to be able to thank her in person. The whole team do an absolutely amazing job and we are thankful every day, that we have our baby girl, who is truly a miracle."

Raising awareness

Emma with her fiancé Phil Cavanagh (Image: David Johnson Photographic)

Emma and Phil's experience has promoted them to try and spread awareness about the condition that endangered Emma and Jessie.

According to the NHS, a placental abruption is a "serious condition in which the placenta starts to come away from the inside of the womb wall."

It can cause stomach pain, bleeding from the vagina and frequent contractions.

It's not clear what causes the condition, but factors that can increase the risk include previous injuries to the abdominal area, smoking and high blood pressure.